Chiefs trash homosexuality, call for abortion debate

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Chiefs

Some traditional leaders in Malawi’s northern region have described the debate surrounding homosexuality as useless saying it can be better if people can switch their focus to important issues such as the abortion bill.

In an interview with chiefs across the region last week, maintained that the issue of homosexuality is not supported by their culture and it is not beneficial to the people of the country.

Village headman Vilimumo of Chitheka in Nkhatabay emphasized that people must stop wasting time debating on baseless issues which are usually emerging to spoil the Malawian society.

“Why can’t we be discussing important issues like how our country can overcome issues to do with corruption? I believe that there are a lot of things we have to be focusing on and not those useless issues,” he said.

parliament
Parliamentarians asked to avoid homosexuality debate.

His sentiments were echoed by almost all the other traditional leaders who represented their respective districts in this region. Chief Kyungu of Karonga advised all those who claim to be fighting for the rights of people to consider fighting for the lives of women who lose their lives through unsafe abortion.

He said for instance in his area, many women carry out unsafe abortion a thing which is risking their lives thus issues to do with how such practices may be reduced are more important than that of homosexuality which usually benefits those involved.

“Enough of such debates. Let us debate issues to do with real human rights like that of right to a life of a woman who may lose her life through unsafe abortion. Homosexuality is not in our culture and usually benefits those involved,” he fumed.

Initially, the debate on abortion had stormed the country but it was replaced by homosexuality. The debate on abortion surfaced after it was revealed that legislators were planning of tabling the pregnancy termination bill in which among others, women who were raped will be allowed to abort the pregnancy.

Those who also fall victims to incest and some who have a pregnancy that risks their life will also be allowed to terminate it.

Most Malawians including the Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya who is also legislator for Karonga Nyungwe backed the enactment of the bill on grounds that it will help save lives of more women who die through unsafe abortion

Others such as the Roman Catholic trashed the suggestion saying it goes against their doctrines.

The debate was left hanging in balance because the attention of Malawians turned to homosexuality which has reached the extent where people are planning on suing each other as others are suggesting of killing all homosexuals on the basis that they don’t deserve to live since they are advocates of satan.